Here a Chick, there a chick,oops

[CKMom]

so the outside run is not finished yet. I try to take a group of them outside everyday, and put them in a low fenced area. I have EEs, BO, and dominiques. The EE and BO are fine when we do this. The doms are skittish to begin with, and hate to be touched,let alone picked up to be taken outside. Today she flew over the fence and proceeded to run into the woods. She came back, me pleading with her, gave her a grape, and back into the coop, whew!

Do chickens have to be taught to free range and return? I hate to have to leave the Doms in the coop for another week, but can't risk them running away, we have 11 acres of meadow and woods.
p.s. they are 11 weeks old

 

[redhen]

I'd keep them inside the coop for at least a week, so they really know that the coop is home base...Thats what i did with mine and they have been fine...every night they go back in the coop by themselves..

 

[CKMom]

They have been in the coop since they turned 6 wks old. I grab a small group of them everyday for outside playtime, but have to carry them into the fencing. The orps and EE are ok if they fly the fence and they are ok being picked up to go back in the coop, but not the Doms.